Government Shutdown Resources

What is a Government Shutdown

A “lapse in appropriations” triggers a government shutdown which occurs when there are no appropriated funds to pay for an agency or program, as a result of no enacted appropriations law providing those funds. The Constitution requires that no money leave the Treasury except as a consequence of an appropriation.

Resources

In the event of Government Shutdowns, my offices will remain open during normal business hours if you are in need of assistance. It’s important to note, our capabilities and resources may be limited based on specific agencies’ contingency plans. In accordance with Circular A-11, agency contingency plans for a lapse in appropriations are hosted solely on each agency’s website.

Below is information on how the agencies we work with most frequently for casework and constituent needs will handle a shutdown:

Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS): Will continue business as usual.
Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC): Will continue business as usual.
The US Postal Service (USPS): Will continue business as usual.
Taxpayer Advocate Services (TAS): Will continue business as usual.
National Passport Center/US Department of State: Will continue business as usual.
United States Forest Service (USFS): Will be operating as close to normal as they can.
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA): During a government shutdown, veterans will continue to receive medical care, benefits, burials, crisis support, and other essential services. However, some programs and offices will be temporarily paused, click here for details on which resources may be affected.
Social Security Administration (SSA): Social Security beneficiaries will continue to receive their Social Security, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. However, some services provided by the SSA may be suspended during a government shutdown. For a complete list of which services will continue and which may be paused, please see SSA’s contingency plan here.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM): Will be operating as close to normal as they can. Public access to public lands will still be open, however there will be no facility maintenance during a shutdown. Depending on the length of the shutdown, there may be delays in processing permits and contracts and offices might be closed to the public. They will still be available by phone. BLM law enforcement and fire will not be affected. Wild horses in holding facilities will still be fed and cared for, and roundups will proceed.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): Will continue business as usual. An exception to this would be E-Verify, which operates on appropriated funds and would be subject to interruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the shutdown go into effect?

If Congress fails to reach an agreement on a short-term funding bill to allow extended negotiations, the federal government will shut down at midnight on September 30.

How long will the shutdown last:

The length of a shutdown depends on how quickly Congress and the President agree on legislation to fund the government (appropriations). A shutdown can end in one of two ways:

Continuing Resolution (CR):
A short-term measure that reopens the government temporarily while negotiations continue on full-year funding bills.
Full-Year Appropriations Bills:
The longer-term solution that sets funding levels for the entire fiscal year. The process is already underway: the House Appropriations Committee has passed all 12 funding bills through committee and 3 on the House floor. Next, the House and Senate must “conference” to reconcile differences and pass identical versions of each bill before they can become law.

Which federal employees continue to work?

During the event of a government shutdown, agencies must classify their employees as “essential” or “nonessential”. Those classified as “essential” will continue working throughout the government shutdown, receiving pay at the first of the month for the preceding month. Click here for more information regarding shutdown furloughs.

Will furloughed federal employees receive back pay in the event of a government shutdown?

Before 2019, federal employees who were furloughed during a funding gap were not entitled to retro-active pay unless language within the subsequent spending authority provided for such payments. The Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, 31 U.S.C. §1341, now statutorily requires retroactive pay for furloughed and essential employees following the end of a lapse in government funding. The exact timeframe for retro-active payment will depend on the length of the lapse in government funding and start date of the enacted continuing resolution or appropriations bill. The normal payroll cycle may be disrupted by a lapse in appropriations and checks may be issued at irregular times.

Will I continue to receive my Social Security, Social Security Insurance (SSI), and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) checks?
Yes. Social Security checks will continue to be mailed out.

What happens to Medicaid and Medicare?
Medicare and Medicaid will be unaffected and operate normally under a shutdown.

Will Veterans’ Hospitals remain open?
Yes. Veteran health care is not impacted. VA Medical Centers, Outpatient Clinics, and Vet Centers will be open. Click here for the Department of Veterans Affairs contingency plan.

What will happen to the Department of Defense and active duty military?
The DoD and active duty military will be unaffected in the event of a government shutdown.